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Mayor Madeline Rogero discusses the appointment of Police Chief David Rausch as the next director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the selection of his replacement. Ruth White/News Sentinel

Knoxville mayor Madeline Rogero shares her plans for replacing Knoxville Police Chief David Raucsh, explaining that one of the department's four deputy chiefs could possibly fill the position. Ruth White/News Sentinel

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Mayor Madeline Rogero discusses the appointment of Police Chief David Rausch as the next director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the selection of his replacement.(Photo: Ruth White/News Sentinel)

Rogero is the city's first female mayor. The city has never had a female police chief.

“My decision on who becomes the next police chief will not be based on gender or race," she said. "Right now, the four deputy chiefs – if I choose from them – are two women and two men. I want the best qualified person. If it’s a woman, it will be a woman. If it’s a man, it’ll be a man.

“So, I’m not out to make a statement, but if a statement is made with my selection so be it. But it’s about the most qualified person, in my opinion," she continued.

Rogero congratulated Rausch on his service to Knoxville and said she won't rush a decision, but "I won't drag my feet on it either."

When asked if she'd appoint an interim chief, she said that was not in her plans.

Rogero said she would immediately begin searching for a new police chief and would start by interviewing the department's four deputy chiefs beginning Tuesday to gauge their interest in the job. She called them four excellent deputy chiefs.

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Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch has been named the next director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Angela Gosnell, Knoxville News Sentinel

Gass was the department's first female deputy chief. She was the department's officer of the year in 1995.

Before she was promoted to deputy chief, Gass was named captain and placed in charge of the Management Services Division where she was responsible for the department’s budget, payroll, the Personnel and Crime Analysis Units, accreditation, building services and grants among other things.

Miller has served on the department since 1992 and has been a deputy chief in the criminal investigations division for nearly two years.

From 1997-2010 Miller served on the department's Special Operations Squad (SWAT). He was commander of the Internal Affairs Unit from 2010-15 and district commander of the East District Patrol Division prior to his appointment as deputy chief.

KPD Deputy Chief Kenny Miller

Thomas is the newest deputy chief. She was named deputy chief over the patrol division in March, becoming the second woman in department history to be named deputy chief.

Thomas has served the department in various roles since 1993. In 2005 she was promoted to lieutenant and was assigned as the Special Operations Supervisor where she was responsible for the Crisis Negotiation Unit, SWAT, the K-9 Unit, the Search and Recovery Team among others. Since 2015 she has been in charge of the department's Internal Affairs Unit.

Holliday has served the department since 1990 and is deputy chief over the Support Services Division which oversees the Technical Services Unit, Training Academy, Fleet, Records Management, Safety Education and Crime Analysis Units.

Haslam selected Rausch for the position after the chief was named a finalist for the TBI job in May. The governor will return to Knoxville after his term is over, and Rausch will leave the department and head to Nashville.

KPD officer David Rausch, center with KPD Chief Phil Keith, and Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe, right after being sworn is as a Knoxville Police Department Officer. Deputy Chief David Rausch will be sworn in as the new chief of the Knoxville Police Department Friday March 25, 2011. Special to the News Sentinel

Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch speaks during a ceremony in which city officials and the Knoxville Police Department decided to remove a Bible verse plaque in the KPD headquarters on Friday, July 28, 2017. The controversial plaque was determined by city leaders to cross a "clearly established line" with government promoting a single religion. The plaque was moved to the Hall of Inspiration, where other quotes hang. Calvin Mattheis / Knoxville News Sentinel

Knoxville Police Department Chief David Rausch poses on stage with Austin-East High School students during their Black History Month show in Austin-East's auditorium Wednesday, March 8, 2017. KPD and Austin-East students collaborated on the event which included spoken word, singing and dancing. CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL

Knoxville Police Officer Mike Waggoner, on ladder, hands Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch the Bible verse plaque during a ceremony where city officials and Knoxville Police Department decided to remove the plaque in the KPD headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee on Friday, July 28, 2017. The controversial plaque was determined by city leaders to cross a "clearly established line" with government promoting a single religion. The plaque was moved to the Hall of Inspiration where other quotes hang. Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch stands behind President Donald Trump in October, 2017, as Trump declares the opioid epidemic a national public emergency. Rausch was among those invited to the White House for the announcement. Submitted / David Rausch

Tennessee women's basketball head coach Holly Warlick talks with Knoxville Police chief David Rausch during a reception held in honor of Warlick at the Knoxville Convention Center on Thursday, June 21, 2012. Saul Young/News Sentinel

Knoxville's Chief of Police, David Rausch, left, speaks with Knox County Sheriff Jimmy Jones during the Knoxville-Knox County Peace Officers Memorial Service at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, on Thursday, May 18, 2017.
(Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel) Shawn Millsaps, Shawn MIllsaps

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero speaks before giving a proclamation on immigration as part of Day of Immigration Action activities coordinated nationwide by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, along with Knoxville Police Department Chief David Rausch at left Tuesday, March 21, 2017, in the City County Building. CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL

Outgoing KPD Police Chief David Rausch, pictured here at the KPD Headquarters on Friday, June 22, 2018, has been named the next TBI Director. He will begin his new role on Monday. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel

Outgoing KPD Police Chief David Rausch, right, poses for a photo with Eve Thomas, who was chosen to replace Rausch as police chief, at KPD Headquarters on Friday, June 22, 2018. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel

Chief David Rausch laughs as Deputy Chief Eve Thomas says her first new rule was "no dancing." Thomas was being sworn in at a ceremony in Mayor Madeline Rogero's office Thursday, June 21, 2018. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

In a wide-ranging May interview with the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee, Rausch said he has spent a career preparing for the director’s position.

“In terms of preparation, I’ve spent a career preparing for what I do, becoming an expert in my field of law enforcement … So, I don’t believe I have much more preparation to do,” Rausch said. “I’ve studied the TBI and I’ve studied their processes, and I’ve studied what’s been going on there and am certainly aware of the two comptroller reports that have come out and I’ve read those.”

Rogero said Rausch is well qualified for the TBI job, knows departments across the state and is an expert in many areas, and is known on the federal level.

"You always hate to lose someone you enjoy working with and who has done a good job," she said, but added it's good for the city to have someone officials know in that TBI post.

What's in store for the new chief?

She said the new chief will need to review what, if anything, can be changed or improved.

Rogero said she'd like to see the community policing and neighborhood meetings continue. "Certainly, that will continue."

She also pointed to the continuation of the Save our Sons program to create opportunities for young men of color who have been disproportionately affected by violence. And the next chief will oversee the construction of a new safety complex, she added.